Tottenham vs Arsenal: Five classic cup encounters

Five classic cup encounters between Tottenham and Arsenal

Five classic cup encounters between Tottenham and Arsenal

1/5
Tottenham 1 Arsenal 2 - 1987 League Cup Semi-Final Replay

For anyone that doubts the importance and excitement of replays in English cup competitions look back over these three thrilling ties. The prolific Clive Allen gave Spurs a 1-0 win at Highbury, and then made it 2-0 at the Lane before Viv Anderson and Niall Quinn dragged Arsenal back into the tie. Spurs took home advantage for the replay on a coin toss and seemed to have made it count through that man Allen again. Ian Allinson tied it up before fan hero David Rocastle decided the tie after 270 minutes. Manager David Pleat described the trio as “a stab in the heart”, he would leave Spurs six months later in October.

2/5
Tottenham 3 Arsenal 1 - 1991 FA Cup Semi Final

Within minutes of this semi-final beginning it had already earned its place in cup history thanks to Paul Gascoigne’s spectacular free kick. From near 30 yards out the England international hit an unstoppable strike that David Seaman could only palm into the roof of the net. It didn’t get much better for Arsenal from then on, with Gary Lineker picking up the other two goals in an emphatic 3-1 victory. Tottenham would go on to lift the cup a month later but at some cost, with Gascoigne picking up a knee injury that would make the final his last Spurs match.

3/5
Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1 - 2001 FA Cup Semi Final

Mere months before Sol Campbell was to defect across North London Arsene Wenger’s French stars showed the England defender who were the bosses in the capital. However it didn’t look so rosy after 14 minutes, when a Gary Doherty header gave Spurs a lead against the run of play. Arsenal were relentless in their pursuit of parity, with Patrick Vieira heading his side level as Campbell received treatment off the field. In spite of an obdurate display from goalkeeper Neil Sullivan the tide could not be stemmed and Robert Pires tapped in a winner 16 minutes from time.

4/5
Tottenham 5 Arsenal 1 - 2008 League Cup Semi Final Second Leg

After a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Spurs were well placed to make the League Cup final, in spite of a late equaliser by the hosts. However Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane eviscerated an Arsenal side, picking up a first win over Wenger in nine years with some style. Within an hour the visitors were 4-0 down and desperate to leave – Nicklas Bendtner and William Gallas rowed on the pitch as the game drew to an end. Juande Ramos would celebrate a Carling Cup victory for Spurs that season, but he would soon be replaced by Harry Redknapp after his side’s league form flatlined following their Wembley triumph.

5/5
Tottenham 1 Arsenal 4 (AET) - 2010 League Cup Third Round

As is the case this season Arsenal’s road to Wembley began at White Hart Lane. But before their supporters get too excited it should be remembered that they blew a first trophy in six years against Birmingham. Young guns such as Jack Wilshere and Henri Lansbury were crucial in firing Arsenal to a 4-1 extra time win over Harry Redknapp’s side, with Samir Nasri grabbing two from the spot.

One of English football’s most storied rivalries resumes tomorrow night as Arsenal travel to White Hart Lane for the 181st North London derby.

A fixture steeped in history, meetings between the Gunners and Tottenham have often been at their most electric in cup competitions, with the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Clive Allen and Tony Adams lighting up the fixture throughout the years.

With Spurs having had much the worse of it in the league over the past 20 years cup competitions have represented a major opportunity for bragging rights, and it has been one that tomorrow’s hosts have grasped with vehemence.

The hosts were triumphant last time these two sides met in the league as Harry Kane inspired a 2-1 comeback win, but how have the two sides fared in the cup? And which matches have been the highlights of one of the game’s most exciting derbies?